1Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; “

Ask yourself this question, “In what is your identity?”Is it in an experience, a tragedy, an upbringing, a culture, the color of your skin or the community you are in? Is it in your achievements or your failures, your name or in your looks? Is your identity in a sports team or your school, a club or the car you drive? Is your identity in your hobby, your work, your friendships? Is your identity attached to your clothing or music style or if you are liked and accepted? Maybe it is one of these or many of these. I ask the question because God wants us to see ourselves as he does and identify ourselves as he does. All these earthly identities will vanish when the Lord returns for us or if we were to die before that. When you and I stand before the lord in his glorious presence we will not be dressed in that identifying clothing we wear so proudly nor be attached any more to that group or club or team. We will not enter boasting of our earthly accomplishments or achievements nor our failures and weaknesses we once were labeled as by others. No, none of these will be seen on us because none of them are who we are as believers and followers and disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. So why are they so seriously held to while on the earth since they are as temporal as a passing cloud and hold no real value to life? Through Peter God has communicated that those who come to him (1Pet 2 vs. 4), are royal, holy, and special. Not because of us but because of him. Royal - as in kingly or regal because we have become the the adopted children of God Holy - as in set apart as he, our holy God, is from all things and not attached to Him. Special - here the Greek refers to that which is possessed or owned. Consider that which you own and how those things are special to you. We are God’s possessions therefore being special to Him. These all speak of a new identity attached to Him who saved us. They speak of transformation that is intended by God for us to see and live out. But the verse also communicates purpose and direction. We are royal, holy and his special possession so to proclaim Him and that he has delivered us from darkness, a life absent of his presence, to light, a life eternal with Him.

A frequently remembered and quoted text is the apostle Paul’s encouragement to have the mind of Christ. But do we grasp the totality of his words?

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

Likely when reading this verse you raise up praise for what he did to make possible your salvation. This would be a just response. However, the words are not written to induce praise but a change of mind following the servant character of Jesus.

So the question must follow, “How did Jesus demonstrate what a servant is? Paul answers, “...humbled himself (though equal to God) and became obedient (to God his Father), so much so that he was willing to sacrifice himself , even to the point of death. Humility was the mind of Christ and the manifestation of this mind was his leaving his home in heaven and coming to this world as a man to give himself for the undeserving. Jesus the great missionary fulfilled the great commandment to love God and love others (Matt. 22:37-40).

So to have his mind is to have his ministry of service to sacrifice for the spiritual benefit of others. This is the foundation of all ministry and missions. Our life given for the lives of others. You can’t have his mind without the other.

I pray that you would give yourself to Paul’s encouragement to join our Lord in service and perpetuate his mission.

Every once in a while I am surprisingly informed by secular radio programs. Today I heard a doctor share about Mama Maggie on a KFI radio program. The doctor was a surgeon that travel to Egypt with a medical team as he has done in many countries before. There he met Mamma Maggie who has for many years ministered to the pour or the pour who live among the garbage. God is truly glorified by her testimony.

Her ministry is called Stephen's Children. I'll let her speak for herself in the attached video from 2011.

The following are interviews with Doctor Marty Makary, author of a book on Mama Maggie just broadcast today, 4/29/15.

Over the years I have seen the Church respond to the numerous natural disasters of tornados, tsunamis, earthquakes and hurricanes. This, in itself, is not bad nor am I against the Church responding financially, materially or with sending volunteers. However, has the Church become just as reactionary and temporary in its attention span as a CNN or FOX news? These news services focus and exploit these attention getting events for ratings, but once the event has lost its excitement or some other event is more extraordinary or disastrous then the interest ends and the story fades.

The case in point is Japan the earthquake/tsunami of 2011. We, with other ministries and churches, responded following the disaster. We sent a team soon after to help in the area of Ishinomaki, north of Sendai. The devastation and loss of life was horrible. Teams and ministries from the US as well as others from or out of Japan flooded into all the areas most affected. But once the ministry of relief was no longer needed so was the influx of funds and volunteers. However, when the relief ends the real ministry actually begins for there are still lives that are shattered, in fear and without hope and most importantly people are still without Jesus. This is why we have committed to continue our support to the ongoing mission work in the area and sending teams to come along side the missionaries to perpetuate the witness. Consistency is where the real witness exists.

In our last trip in July I was able to speak with many and there was reactions of surprise and then deep thankfulness when they heard of my returning five times since the tsunami. Questions like, “Why do you come back?” or “Why did you care about us?” are presented to me. Many times with tearful eyes.

There is one gentleman with his mom who own a stationary store that I met on my first trip. They were busy scavenging through the pile and debris in their store. They were not willing to do more than acknowledge my hello. On the 2nd and third trip the same or they were not at their store. But in 2013 I was able to visit them the week they reopened their store. They didn’t remember me but as I shared my joy for their reopening their hearts opened to listen and hear God's love for Japan. They sat and share with me the horrible experience they had when the tsunami hit and the struggles they had with reopening their store. Their thankful hearts were obvious when they insisted I accept a gift. Then this year I visited again and to my surprise the son remembered my name as soon as he saw me. He and his mom again welcomed me into their store with my translator in tow. The time was even more precious and personal for they asked deeper questions about my faith and listened intently as my translator shared her personal testimony. Again the door of their hearts squeaked open a little more.

So in a manner of speaking a relief effort still exists in Japan. It is no longer the delivering of food and resources to a battered community but the delivering of God’s living water to thirsty souls. The opportunity is turning white for harvest but the laborers are less than before so we will pray as the Lord of the harvest that he send more laborers.

"How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.” Rom.10:14-15.

You may or may not know that I am an auto racing enthusiast. Primarily open wheel like Formula 1 or Indy Car. Emerson Fittapaldi is a 2 times Formula 1 champion and a 2 time Indy 500 winner. Incredible driver to watch. But what I love and admire about the man is not his being a winner on the race track or his having what it takes to drive all out but more his sincere faith in Jesus Christ. Here is a wonderful video and encouraging words to believe and follow Jesus.